City events focus on hunger and homelessness

November is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month in Laguna Beach and the city has several activities planned, including a panel discussion on homelessness in Orange County on Nov. 14.

The city-appointed Housing and Human Services Committee is organizing the eighth annual event, featuring food, toiletry, sock and rain gear drives, the World Hunger Bowl online auction and the Thanksgiving potluck community dinner sponsored by the Friendship Shelter Nov. 26.

“The purpose of Laguna Beach’s Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month is to enhance the community’s awareness of the issue in our society, our own hungry and homeless in Laguna Beach, and our community’s organizations that address our hungry and homeless in Laguna Beach and Orange County,” committee Chairman George Weiss said in a statement.

The expert panel discussion titled “Homelessness in Orange County: Discovering Solutions Together” is open to the public and features Kelly Lupro, county homeless prevention representative; Karen Williams, president and chief executive of 211 Orange County; Mark Miller, Friendship Shelter associate director; and Laguna Beach Police Chief Laura Farinella.

John Maceri, executive director of Ocean Park Community Center in Santa Monica, will moderate the session, which begins at 1 p.m. at City Hall, 505 Forest Ave.

The community is encouraged to send questions for the panel in advance to info@LagunaHungryAndHomeless.org.

For more information, visit LagunaHungryAndHomeless.org.